In more trouble for the Bharatiya Janata Party, former party ideologue Govindacharya once again demanded action against Union Minister Sushma Swaraj and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje for allegedly helping former Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi.
Govindacharya claimed that Modi had benefitted from his ties with Swaraj and Raje. "It is clear that Raje and Swaraj had ties with Lalit Modi and he had gained from it. A message has gone out that the government has done something wrong," said Govindacharya.
Saying that public memory is not short-lived, Govindacharya said, "PM Modi should act against Sushma Swaraj and Vasundhara Raje. Credibility is essential as public never forgets anything. The case should be viewed ethically and morally and not technically."
Swaraj and Raje came in line of fire after they claimed that they helped Lalit Modi. Swaraj had admitted to no objection to Lalit Modi's request to travel out of the United Kingdom for his wife's treatment. On the other hand, Raje claimed that she signed documents for Modi's UK stay permit as a friend in 2011 when she leader of the opposition in the Rajasthan state Assembly.
With more fingers being raised over PM Modi's silence on the issue, Govindacharya said, "PM should take advice of those marginalised into 'margdarshak mandal'. The government's commitment to 'zero tolerance on corruption' has been questioned."
Asking both the ministers to face an investigation, Govindacharya said, "If Raje and Sushma are cleared of all charges, they can be re-instated."
Backing Govindacharya, Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said, "Advani is also giving same advice to PM what Govindacharya is giving. But BJP will not act as they have different agenda."
In a veiled message to the government, BJP patriarch LK Advani had said there is a need to maintain probity in public life and recalled how he resigned soon after his name cropped up in the Hawala scam.
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